1
"Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed
2
To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.
3
What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory?
4
Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain." For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.
5
"Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
6
I will send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7
Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And cut off not a few nations.
8
For he says, 'Are not my princes altogether kings?
9
Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
10
As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,